According to Wales Online, members of the public around Swansea were shocked to find penalty notices on their cars only to discover it was an advertising campaign by the Bucket List pub, Wind Street. Some even called the campaign "deplorable".
The bright yellow and black advert read: "Penalty notice, do not ignore". Only when it was opened did it read: "No offence, this is a fake ticket".
"You thought we had ruined your day but, in fact, we've made it!".
Around 300 of the fake tickets were placed on cars in back streets and car parks near the pub, advertising 50% off the its new menu on 15 January, which the pub labelled as Blue Monday.
Unlikely success
Bucket List head of marketing Oliver Moore said: "We thought we'd do something a bit tongue in cheek and cheer people up and offer them half price on our new menu for Blue Monday – the most depressing day of the year.
"Unfortunately, we did have five or six complaints from some irate people."
Moore admitted some even complained to Swansea Council's parking department.
"However, it worked out well. We gave out around 300 tickets over the course of two days, and around 50 of those have been used.
"Food sales were up like for like, it was a bit of a headache, but I would class it as a success."
Negative effect
Moore said he would think more carefully about doing something similar in the future.
"We would probably do something that didn't have such a negative effect but, on the flip side, the local press and now The Morning Advertiser has picked it up. In terms of brand building, it's been fantastic".
Moore added: "It was never meant to offend anyone. It was a tongue-in-cheek campaign, it was on Blue Monday. It was to amplify that.
"If anyone was offended, I am genuinely sorry about that."